Radioembolization Followed by Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In recent years, combination therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been increasingly used with superior treatment responses compared to monotherapies. However, the safety and efficacy of the transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) combinations for HCC patients have not been investigated in the literature. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of TACE after TARE in HCC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All TARE procedures performed on HCC patients at a single institution between January 2008 and November 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-three patients who did not receive any additional transarterial therapy in the areas targeted by TARE were assigned to the "TARE group," while 27 patients who received TACE after TARE to the same target area were assigned to the "Combo group." Post-procedural liver toxicity, tumor response, overall survival (OS), and time to progression (TTP) were evaluated. RESULTS: Fewer patients in the Combo group had worsening liver function than the TARE group based on the change in bilirubin levels (19% vs. 40%; p=0.029) and Child-Pugh score increase (28% vs. 51%; p=0.056). The median OS time of all patients was 11.04 months. The Combo group had a significantly longer median OS of 36.8 months (vs. 10.6, p=0.003) and median TTP of 14.4 months (vs. 5.5, p=0.018). After accounting for selection bias, OS and TTP were still in favor of the Combo group, with hazard ratios of 0.651 (p<0.05) and 0.63 (p<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: The addition of TACE to TARE is a safe and effective treatment in unresectable HCC patients and can be considered in select patients with a lack of complete response or disease progression.

Evaluation of staging systems to predict prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with radioembolization.

PURPOSE: To compare the prognostic accuracy of nine staging systems, some of which are well-known and some of which have only been more recently described, for patients with unresectable HCC treated with radioembolization (RE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual scores or classes for the following staging systems were recorded or calculated for patients (n = 89) with unresectable HCC who underwent RE at a single tertiary care center from January 2008 to October 2016: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer, Hong Kong Liver Cancer, Okuda, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP), Model for End Stage Liver Disease, Child-Pugh (CP) Categorical and Numeric, and Albumin-Bilirubin. For each staging system, a cox proportional hazards regression model was fit to the data and log-rank test statistics, concordance indices, Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) and other diagnostic statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Of the nine staging systems analyzed, the basic discriminatory ability assessed with the log-rank test (rejected at the α = .05-level) was significant for two of the systems: CP Numeric (p < .001) and CLIP (p < .05). Out of these two systems, CP Numeric system had a higher prognostic accuracy than CLIP with the lowest AIC (464.90), the highest optimism-corrected pseudo R2 (0.16), and the highest estimated concordance index (0.64). CONCLUSION: As applied to our patient population, the CP Numeric system contained the most predictive prognostic information for patients with HCC undergoing radioembolization. However, all evaluated staging systems performed suboptimally, and the relative superiority of any of the systems remains unclear when ranking them according to common practice. Further evaluation of current ranking methodologies is recommended.

A Quantitative Digital Subtraction Angiography Technique for Characterizing Reduction in Hepatic Arterial Blood Flow During Transarterial Embolization.

OBJECTIVE: There is no standardized and objective method for determining the optimal treatment endpoint (sub-stasis) during transarterial embolization. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a quantitative digital subtraction angiography (qDSA) technique to characterize intra-procedural changes in hepatic arterial blood flow velocity in response to transarterial embolization in an in vivo porcine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight domestic swine underwent bland transarterial embolizations to partial- and sub-stasis angiographic endpoints with intraprocedural DSA acquisitions. Embolized lobes were assessed on histopathology for ischemic damage and tissue embolic particle density. Analysis of target vessels used qDSA and a commercially available color-coded DSA (ccDSA) tool to calculate blood flow velocities and time-to-peak, respectively. RESULTS: Blood flow velocities calculated using qDSA showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) between partial- and sub-stasis endpoints, whereas time-to-peak calculated using ccDSA did not show a significant difference. During the course of embolizations, the average correlation with volume of particles delivered was larger for qDSA (- 0.86) than ccDSA (0.36). There was a statistically smaller mean squared error (p < 0.01) and larger coefficient of determination (p < 0.01) for qDSA compared to ccDSA. On pathology, the degree of embolization as calculated by qDSA had a moderate, positive correlation (p < 0.01) with the tissue embolic particle density of ischemic regions within the embolized lobe. CONCLUSIONS: qDSA was able to quantitatively discriminate angiographic embolization endpoints and, compared to a commercially available ccDSA method, improve intra-procedural characterization of blood flow changes. Additionally, the qDSA endpoints correlated with tissue-level changes.

Combination transarterial chemoembolization and microwave ablation improves local tumor control for 3- to 5-cm hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with transarterial chemoembolization alone.

PURPOSE: To compare transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) monotherapy to combination TACE and microwave ablation (MWA) for local control of 3- to 5-cm hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Patients with HCC between 3 and 5 cm treated with TACE monotherapy or combination TACE + MWA at a single institution between 2007 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-four HCCs (median diameter 3.8 cm) in 16 patients (13 males; median age 64 years) were treated using TACE monotherapy. Combination TACE + MWA was used to treat 23 HCCs (median diameter 4.2 cm) in 22 patients (18 males; median age 61 years). Microwave ablation was performed at a target time of two weeks following TACE. Individual tumors were followed by serial contrast-enhanced CT or MR. Response to treatment was evaluated on a tumor-by-tumor basis using mRECIST criteria with the primary outcome being local tumor progression (LTP). Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables. Time to LTP was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Relative to TACE monotherapy, TACE + MWA provided a trend toward both a lower rate of LTP (34.8% vs. 62.5%, p = 0.11) and a higher complete response rate (65.2% vs. 37.5%; p = 0.12). Time to LTP (22.3 months vs. 4.2 months; p = 0.001) was significantly longer in the TACE + MWA group compared to TACE monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with TACE and microwave ablation improves local control and increases time to LTP for 3-5 cm HCC.

Complex Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval Complicated by Migration of Filter Fragment into the Aorta and Subsequent Distal Embolization.

In 2005, a 48-year-old man with a spinal cord injury had an inferior vena cava filter placed for recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. He was referred for filter retrieval after a computed tomography scan demonstrated caval stenosis and 2 fractured filter arms, 1 in a pulmonary artery and 1 penetrating into the retroperitoneum and impinging on the aorta. During retrieval, 1 arm was inadvertently advanced into the aorta, and embolization of the arm occurred to the left profunda femoris artery. It was subsequently retrieved. This is the first reported case to the authors' knowledge of migration and embolization of a filter fragment into the systemic arterial system.

Comparison of the effect of low- and iso-osmolar contrast agents on heart rate during chest CT angiography: results of a prospective randomized multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare the effect of intravenous injection of low-osmolar iopamidol with that of intravenous injection of iso-osmolar iodixanol on heart rate (HR) during nongated chest computed tomographic (CT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter study was approved by local institutional review boards, and patients provided written informed consent. Patient enrollment and examination at centers in the United States complied with HIPAA regulations. One hundred and thirty patients (54 male; mean age, 52 years) clinically suspected of having pulmonary embolism were referred for pulmonary CT angiography and were randomly assigned to receive 80 mL of either iopamidol (370 mg of iodine per milliliter, n = 63) or iodixanol (320 mg of iodine per milliliter, n = 67) at a rate of 4 mL/sec. HR (measured in beats per minute) was monitored from 5 minutes before the start of injection to the end of imaging, and precontrast HR and maximum postcontrast HR were recorded. Student t and χ(2) tests were used for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. RESULTS: Precontrast HR in patients who received iopamidol (mean, 81 beats per minute ± 18 [standard deviation]) was similar to that in patients who received iodixanol (mean, 77 beats per minute ± 17) (P = .16). Mean postcontrast HR was 87 beats per minute ± 17 and 82 beats per minute ± 18 (P = .16) in the iopamidol and iodixanol groups, respectively. Mean increase from precontrast HR to postcontrast HR was 5 beats per minute ± 9 and 5 beats per minute ± 7 (P = .72) in the iopamidol and iodixanol groups, respectively. Thirty-five (56%) of the 63 patients who received iopamidol and 33 (49%) of the 67 patients who received iodixanol had an HR increase of fewer than 5 beats per minute, 15 (24%) and 18 (27%) patients, respectively, had an increase of 5-9 beats per minute, and four (6%) and three (4%) patients, respectively, had an increase of more than 20 beats per minute. These proportions were not significantly different between the groups (P = .51, χ(2) test). CONCLUSION: High-rate intravenous administration of 80 mL of iopamidol and iodixanol during pulmonary CT angiography slightly increased HR; there was no difference in HR between the contrast agent groups.

Percutaneous management of tumoral biliary obstruction in children.

BACKGROUND: There is limited experience of percutaneous biliary interventions in children although they are safe and effective procedures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous management of tumoral biliary obstruction in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous biliary interventions were performed in eight children (six boys, two girls) with a mean age of 10.5 years (range 4-17 years). The interventions included percutaneous biliary drainage (five patients), percutaneous biliary drainage and placement of a self-expanding metallic stent (two patients), and percutaneous cholecystostomy (one patient). All patients had signs of obstructive jaundice and two had cholangitis. RESULTS: All procedures were successful. No procedure-related mortality was observed. Bilirubin levels returned to normal in four of the eight patients. Findings of cholangitis resolved in the two affected patients after the procedure and antibiotic treatment. Two patients underwent surgery after percutaneous biliary drainage procedures. A self-expanding metallic stent was placed in two patients with malignancy and the stents remained patent until death. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous biliary interventions can be performed safely for the management of tumoral biliary obstruction in children.

Palliation of malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction with combined metallic stenting.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of palliation of malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction with combined metallic stenting under fluoroscopy guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 9 patients (6 men and 3 women) who underwent biliary and duodenal stenting was performed. The mean age of patients was 61 years (range: 42-80 years). The causes of obstruction were pancreatic carcinoma in 7 patients, cholangiocellular carcinoma in one, and duodenal carcinoma in the other. Biliary and duodenal stents were placed simultaneously in 4 patients. In other 5 patients dudodenal stents were placed after biliary stenting when the duodenal obstruction symptoms have developed. In two patients duodenal stents were advanced via transgastric approach. RESULTS: Technical success rate was 100 %. After percutaneous biliary drainage and stenting bilirubin levels decreased to normal levels in 6 patients and in remaining 3 patients mean reduction of 71% in bilirubin levels was achieved. Tumoral ingrowth occurred in one patient and percutaneous biliary restenting was performed 90 days after the initial procedure. Of the 9 patients, 6 patients were able to tolerate solid diet, whereas 2 patients could tolerate liquid diet and one patient did not show any improvement. Mean survival periods were 111 and 73 days after biliary and duodenal stenting, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined biliary and duodenal stent placement which can be performed under fluoroscopic guidance without assistance of endoscopy is feasible and an effective method of palliation of malignant biliary and duodenal obstructions. If transoral and endoscopic approaches fail, percutaneous gastrostomy route allows duodenal stenting.

Preoperative multidetector computed tomography diagnosis of a seminoma originating from an undescended testis by "testicular vascular pedicle" sign.

We report a 65-year-old man with a palpable right lower quadrant mass who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) examination. Preoperative diagnosis of seminoma was possible by demonstration of "testicular vascular pedicle" sign by MDCT. We describe CT findings of the "testicular vascular pedicle" sign in this report.

Removal of a trapped endoscopic catheter from the gallbladder via percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy: technical innovation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous cholecystostomy is used for a variety of clinical problems. METHODS: Percutaneous cholecystostomy was utilized in a novel setting to resolve a problematic endoscopic situation. OBSERVATIONS: Percutaneous cholecystostomy permitted successful removal of a broken and trapped endoscopic biliary catheter, in addition to helping treat cholecystitis. CONCLUSION: Another valuable use of percutaneous cholecystostomy is demonstrated, as well as emphasizing the importance of the interplay between endoscopists and interventional radiologists.

Bilateral multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: endovascular treatment with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare vascular malformation of the lung that carries a considerable risk of serious complications such as cerebral embolism, brain abscess, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Embolization with coils or detachable balloons is currently the preferred treatment. Paradoxical embolization of coils and balloons may occur, especially in patients with large feeding arteries. This report describes an initial experience with the use of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug used for endovascular treatment of bilateral multiple pulmonary AVMs in an adult patient.

Diaphragmatic mesothelial cysts in children: radiologic findings and percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: We describe CT, MR, and sonography findings of diaphragmatic mesothelial cysts and the results of percutaneous treatment with ethanol. All cysts were bilobulate and showed extrahepatic location between the right liver lobe and diaphragm. CONCLUSION: Radiologic findings are helpful in diagnosing diaphragmatic mesothelial cysts, which should be managed conservatively. Percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy should be the first choice of treatment if necessary.

Percutaneous hepaticogastrostomy in a patient with complete common duct obstruction after right hepatectomy.

Complete bile duct obstruction that cannot be traversed by a guide wire can be challenging for the interventional radiologist. Although hepaticogastrostomy, which can be an alternative for such cases, has been performed under fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance previously, this technique can be simplified by using only fluoroscopy. This technique was used in a patient who had complete common bile duct obstruction after hepatic resection. The patient initially had a good clinical outcome and stayed symptom-free for 5 months but eventually developed biliary epithelial hyperplasia and required placement of another metallic stent.

Percutaneous management of parapneumonic effusions.

Parapneumonic effusions continue to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Treatment at earlier stages before fibrous peel and loculations occur has a much better prognosis. Using image guidance, addition of intracavitary fibrinolytic instillation, close follow-up with drainage of residual or new collections are some of the other factors that improve prognosis. In this article, we discussed treatment strategies, percutaneous management of parapneumonic effusions, its alternatives and results.

Single-session percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy in simple renal cysts in children: long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Simple renal cysts are rare in children and managed conservatively unless symptomatic. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy and long-term results of single-session ethanol sclerotherapy in symptomatic simple renal cysts in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three simple renal cysts in three children (age 1, 5 and 16 years) were included in the study. Indications for treatment were flank pain (n = 1), hypertension (n = 1), and increasing cyst size and urinary tract infection (n = 1). The mean follow-up period was 5.5 years (range 3-7 years). The procedures were performed with the guidance of US and fluoroscopy and under IV sedation. After the cystogram, 95% ethanol with a volume of 40% of the cyst volume (but not more than 100 ml) was used as the sclerosing agent. RESULTS: Two cysts disappeared completely, while the volume reduction was 99% for the third cyst at the end of the first year. CT demonstrated calcification of the cyst without an enhancing soft-tissue component in the third one 7 years after sclerotherapy. After the procedures, hypertension and pain resolved without any medication. There were no complications during the procedures or during follow-up. Cytological examination was unremarkable in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous treatment of symptomatic simple renal cysts in children with single-session ethanol sclerotherapy is a safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure. Calcification owing to sclerotherapy can be observed on follow-up.

Clinical outcomes with airway stents for proximal versus distal malignant tracheobronchial obstructions.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the outcome of tracheobronchial stent placement in symptomatic patients with malignant disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1993 to 2002, 30 patients had stents placed for malignant strictures. Five of 30 patients underwent stent placement distal to the mainstem bronchi, 13 received stents in both the proximal and distal airways, and 12 received stents in only the proximal airways. Clinical response and survival were determined from the patients' medical records. A positive clinical response was judged to have occurred if the patient improved in two of these three categories: subjective symptoms (patient-reported), objective signs (clinician-reported), and postprocedural imaging. RESULTS: The condition of 29 of 30 patients improved within 4 weeks of stent placement. The mean survival duration after stent placement was 261 days (SD, 395.1 days). The location of stent placement was not associated with significant differences in clinical improvement or survival (P =.51). Eight patients had additional airway segments that were too diffusely involved in which to place a stent or could not be recanalized. Mean survival in this group with incomplete stent placement was significantly reduced at 24.9 days (SD, 23.1 days), compared with 345.5 days (SD, 436 days) for the remaining patients who underwent complete stent placement (P <.05). Four patients lived less than 10 days after the procedure and three patients (75%) had mediastinal invasion. CONCLUSION: Tracheobronchial stent placement effectively palliates malignant airway obstruction, and clinical improvement is independent of the location in which the stent is implanted. When patients had diffuse or highly obstructive airway involvement and underwent incomplete stent placement, clinical response was also satisfactory, even though survival was worse. Patients with mediastinal invasion were poor candidates for stent placement as a result of their short survival.

Hepatic perfusion as a predictor of mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation in patients with refractory ascites.

PURPOSE: To determine whether hepatic perfusion patterns predict mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation in patients with severe ascites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 22 patients who had enhanced cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed immediately before TIPS creation in the angled coronal plane including the left kidney, liver, and main portal vein. Regions of interest were centered over the liver and kidney, and perfusion curves were generated and reviewed before the standard TIPS procedure was performed. Four patients did not undergo TIPS creation as a result of very poor hepatic perfusion by MR. All patients were followed clinically and by ultrasound surveillance of their shunt. RESULTS: Eleven patients died within 6 months, including all four patients who did not have a TIPS because of MR evidence of poor hepatic perfusion. Of these 11 patients, eight (73%) had unfavorable liver flow consisting of diminished enhancement compared to the kidney and early peak enhancement of less than 50 seconds. The surviving patients all showed a delayed peak enhancement of greater than 50 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing TIPS creation for refractory ascites, blunted arterial-type hepatic enhancement is a poor prognostic sign. Cine MR imaging with evaluation of hepatic perfusion can be performed and reviewed before the TIPS procedure. Alternative techniques for ascites reduction may be preferred for patients with unfavorable hepatic perfusion.

Percutaneous retrieval of chronic intravascular foreign bodies.

To evaluate the feasibility of intravascular retrieval of chronic foreign bodies, we retrospectively reviewed an 8 year experience (1993-2001) of percutaneous retrieval of chronically retained intravascular foreign bodies (n = 6). In 6 of 6 cases (4 catheter fragments, 2 guidewires), 5-90 days elapsed before retrieval via the femoral or internal jugular vein. Under fluoroscopy, we determined the foreign body's course, position and size. A guidewire was advanced through a multipurpose catheter to the foreign body. The multipurpose catheter was replaced with a gooseneck snare catheter and the snare advanced to grasp and remove the foreign body. Percutaneous retrieval was successful in all 6 cases. One patient experienced mild hemoptysis, which resolved within 24 hr of observation. No patient experienced long-term sequelae. Given the potential life-threatening complications from intravascular foreign bodies and the low complication rate from percutaneous retrieval, we recommend extraction of the foreign body even if it is asymptomatic in the chronic setting (> 24 hr).

Guglielmi detachable coil erosion into the common bile duct after embolization of iatrogenic hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm.

Intermittent hemobilia with a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm can be seen after open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Transcatheter treatment of this complication is widely accepted. Although some authors suggest packing the pseudoaneurysm with coils as the treatment of choice, occluding the parent artery is the standard treatment. The authors present an unusual complication of Guglielmi detachable coil erosion into the common bile duct in a patient who presented with pancreatitis 2 years after undergoing packing of the hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with coils. The probable causes of this rare outcome and alternative treatment options are discussed.